Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to expand his circle and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to join which is the simplest way to sum up the possibility of Pakistan normalising ties with Israel.

For the Israeli PM, the year couldn't have ended on a better note. Netanyahu's government has formalised ties with four Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morrocco including Bhutan.

Direct flights now connect Israel with Arab countries. It will open the door to another country. &nbsp;For Netanyahu, it means another feather on his hat. No matter how bad that feather may be.

Israel doesn't have to change its policies vis-a-vis Palestine. So, Netanyahu gets to eat the cake and have it too. Apparently, Imran Khan is under pressure or so he said on live television.&nbsp;

Imran Khan also claims to be the true leader of the Muslim world, he will lose that card and Pakistan will also lose Iran's support. Unlike Riyadh, Tehran had backed Imran Khan's Kashmir drama but Pakistan has a history of being ungrateful.

It now wants to lean on Saudi Arabia again, by doing so Imran Khan stands to lose the support of Turkey. Not just support, Turkey's vote in the FATF.

Gulf countries are looking to diversify their wealth with the region trying to cope with a new oil order. They are looking at long-term allies like India and looking for investment opportunities - not-liabilities like Pakistan.

In the last few months, Imran Khan has already lost support at home and abroad. He has sold his country to the Chinese, now he is gambling with Pakistan's morality. The public won't spare him neither will hardline Islamists a lot of whom already despise Imran Khan.

The Pakistani prime minister had previously said he thought it was pointless that Arab countries were signing deals with Israel, if he signs one himself the captain will score his homerun of blunders. Imran Khan will lose support at home, allies abroad, not to mention his face.

For long, Pakistan has tried to falsely equate the Palestinian cause to what it claims struggle in Kashmir. Israel sells weapons and technology but Pakistan does not have the money to buy anything.

For Imran Khan, it isn't so much about formalising ties with Israel as it is about rebuilding ties with West Asia - a region that Pakistan has fallen out with and has snubbed Pakistan's military general.

West Asia sees India as a strategic partner, Pakistan wants to make up to them. They plan to set up embassies, chalk out bilateral trade and cooperation.

It would ensure better days for Israel's tourism sector and ample avenues to rebuild an economy hammered by the Wuhan virus and normalising ties with Pakistan wouldn't hurt.

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to expand his circle and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to join which is the simplest way to sum up the possibility of Pakistan normalising ties with Israel.

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to expand his circle and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to join which is the simplest way to sum up the possibility of Pakistan normalising ties with Israel. For the Israeli PM, the year couldn't have ended on a better note. Netanyahu's government has formalised ties with four Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morrocco including Bhutan. Direct flights now connect Israel with Arab countries. It will open the door to another country. For Netanyahu, it means another feather on his hat. No matter how bad that feather may be. Israel doesn't have to change its policies vis-a-vis Palestine. So, Netanyahu gets to eat the cake and have it too. Apparently, Imran Khan is under pressure or so he said on live television. Imran Khan also claims to be the true leader of the Muslim world, he will lose that card and Pakistan will also lose Iran's support. Unlike Riyadh, Tehran had backed Imran Khan's Kashmir drama but Pakistan has a history of being ungrateful. It now wants to lean on Saudi Arabia again, by doing so Imran Khan stands to lose the support of Turkey. Not just support, Turkey's vote in the FATF. Gulf countries are looking to diversify their wealth with the region trying to cope with a new oil order. They are looking at long-term allies like India and looking for investment opportunities - not-liabilities like Pakistan. In the last few months, Imran Khan has already lost support at home and abroad. He has sold his country to the Chinese, now he is gambling with Pakistan's morality. The public won't spare him neither will hardline Islamists a lot of whom already despise Imran Khan. The Pakistani prime minister had previously said he thought it was pointless that Arab countries were signing deals with Israel, if he signs one himself the captain will score his homerun of blunders. Imran Khan will lose support at home, allies abroad, not to mention his face. For long, Pakistan has tried to falsely equate the Palestinian cause to what it claims struggle in Kashmir. Israel sells weapons and technology but Pakistan does not have the money to buy anything. For Imran Khan, it isn't so much about formalising ties with Israel as it is about rebuilding ties with West Asia - a region that Pakistan has fallen out with and has snubbed Pakistan's military general. West Asia sees India as a strategic partner, Pakistan wants to make up to them. They plan to set up embassies, chalk out bilateral trade and cooperation. It would ensure better days for Israel's tourism sector and ample avenues to rebuild an economy hammered by the Wuhan virus and normalising ties with Pakistan wouldn't hurt.

Imran's dilemma: Formalising ties with Israel

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan.

Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in. However, Israel and Pakistan haven't said anything but there have been feelers.

The idea has high profile backers as members of the Pakistani military establishment support it. Some religious leaders also like the prospect of a partnership, however, Islamabad may not have the stomach to go ahead with it.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan had issued a statement in November claiming that Pakistan was under pressure from the United States to befriend Israel.

However, when asked had any Arab country made a similar demand, PM Imran Khan said: "there are things we cannot say. We have good relations with them."

Although the good-relations bit is debatable, Imran Khan's words triggered intense speculation as the Pakistani media began debating the subject. Some of them said it's time for a change.

Experts from Pakistan ended up on Israeli channels advocating better ties between Pakistan and Israel and within a week the Pakistan government was forced to issue another denial.

The Pakistan foreign ministry "categorically rejected" what it called baseless speculation and since then, Pakistan has made every effort to distance itself from the idea.

In fact, the story got so big that even the Pakistani army had to issue a statement. They supported the Pakistan government's stand, however, the reports have not died down as religious leaders have added fuel to the fire.

Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani a prominent religious figure who was a part of the Jamiat ulema-e-Islam and had served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan earlier this month asked about the issue of Israel.

Sherani backed the idea of normalising ties.

"This is an international issue. I support the recognition of Israel. Educated Muslims need to understand that the Quran and history prove to us that the land of Israel belongs only to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians,” Sherani said.

More religious leaders have joined the chorus even as Maulana Jamal Qadri was reminded of his visit to Israel.

Qadri claimed he was sent by Nawaz Sharif "to hold talks with officials in Tel Aviv".

“The people of the then foreign ministry wanted to know whether Pakistan could develop relations with Israel or not,” Qadri said.

“I told the prime minister twice that Pakistan’s parliament should be consulted or a national dialogue be held to take a decision in this regard,” he added.

According to Qadri, Nawaz Sharif was quite keen on formalising ties with Israel.

In 2018, an Israeli jet had landed in Islamabad as reports said it was an Israeli delegation visiting Pakistan. Islamabad, however, denied the story for a week, but one year later Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi supported friendship with Israel.

“We wish all the best for Israel. We have many friends in the region and we would like you to join them," Qureshi told an Israeli news outlet while talking about the American efforts to improve the political situation in the region.

In the end, Qureshi admitted Pakistan was interested in advancing ties with Israel. In the past, Pervez Musharraf had called for better ties with Israel&nbsp;

In 2005, Musharraf had even taken a bold step by publicly shaking hands with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Istanbul.

Clearly, there is desire, what Pakistan lacks is the courage to take the plunge.

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan. Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in.

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan. Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in. However, Israel and Pakistan haven't said anything but there have been feelers. The idea has high profile backers as members of the Pakistani military establishment support it. Some religious leaders also like the prospect of a partnership, however, Islamabad may not have the stomach to go ahead with it. Pakistan PM Imran Khan had issued a statement in November claiming that Pakistan was under pressure from the United States to befriend Israel. However, when asked had any Arab country made a similar demand, PM Imran Khan said: "there are things we cannot say. We have good relations with them." Although the good-relations bit is debatable, Imran Khan's words triggered intense speculation as the Pakistani media began debating the subject. Some of them said it's time for a change. Experts from Pakistan ended up on Israeli channels advocating better ties between Pakistan and Israel and within a week the Pakistan government was forced to issue another denial. The Pakistan foreign ministry "categorically rejected" what it called baseless speculation and since then, Pakistan has made every effort to distance itself from the idea. In fact, the story got so big that even the Pakistani army had to issue a statement. They supported the Pakistan government's stand, however, the reports have not died down as religious leaders have added fuel to the fire. Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani a prominent religious figure who was a part of the Jamiat ulema-e-Islam and had served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan earlier this month asked about the issue of Israel. Sherani backed the idea of normalising ties. "This is an international issue. I support the recognition of Israel. Educated Muslims need to understand that the Quran and history prove to us that the land of Israel belongs only to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians,” Sherani said. More religious leaders have joined the chorus even as Maulana Jamal Qadri was reminded of his visit to Israel. Qadri claimed he was sent by Nawaz Sharif "to hold talks with officials in Tel Aviv". “The people of the then foreign ministry wanted to know whether Pakistan could develop relations with Israel or not,” Qadri said. “I told the prime minister twice that Pakistan’s parliament should be consulted or a national dialogue be held to take a decision in this regard,” he added. According to Qadri, Nawaz Sharif was quite keen on formalising ties with Israel. In 2018, an Israeli jet had landed in Islamabad as reports said it was an Israeli delegation visiting Pakistan. Islamabad, however, denied the story for a week, but one year later Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi supported friendship with Israel. “We wish all the best for Israel. We have many friends in the region and we would like you to join them," Qureshi told an Israeli news outlet while talking about the American efforts to improve the political situation in the region. In the end, Qureshi admitted Pakistan was interested in advancing ties with Israel. In the past, Pervez Musharraf had called for better ties with Israel In 2005, Musharraf had even taken a bold step by publicly shaking hands with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Istanbul. Clearly, there is desire, what Pakistan lacks is the courage to take the plunge.

Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel?

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Imran's dilemma: Formalising ties with Israel

Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel?